Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Where the Wild Things Are
Posted Wednesday, May 09, 2012
In honor of beloved children's book author, Maurice Sendak, who passed away yesterday at the age of 83, we pay tribute with a selection of items that remind us of one of his most beloved stories ... 'Where the Wild Things Are.'
Book Nook: The Three Questions
Posted Monday, May 07, 2012
From Cherice of InnerPiecesGallery.
Jon J. Muth’s picture book for children is aptly titled. The three questions introduced in The Three Questions might at first seem a little odd, especially to today’s modern child. The questions themselves have a slightly unnatural rhythm to them which makes them difficult to imagine ever speaking out loud. This strange rhythm makes much more sense once we realize the questions originate from Leo Tolstoy’s short story titled (Hmm, can you guess it?) The Three Questions.
Muth’s book expresses his own passion for Tolstoy while beautifully sharing the author’s study of Zen in a way that children can understand.
Muth’s watercolors add a peaceful beauty to every page. Most importantly, the engaging images lead us at last to the ANSWERS of these meaningful three questions. No spoiler alert here. You’ll have to read this delightful story to learn the answers for yourself.
Parents, don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book. It offers even more insight into the inspiration behind this empowering book for children.
Find InnerPiecesGallery, online via blog, twitter and Etsy Shop.
Jon J. Muth’s picture book for children is aptly titled. The three questions introduced in The Three Questions might at first seem a little odd, especially to today’s modern child. The questions themselves have a slightly unnatural rhythm to them which makes them difficult to imagine ever speaking out loud. This strange rhythm makes much more sense once we realize the questions originate from Leo Tolstoy’s short story titled (Hmm, can you guess it?) The Three Questions.
Muth’s watercolors add a peaceful beauty to every page. Most importantly, the engaging images lead us at last to the ANSWERS of these meaningful three questions. No spoiler alert here. You’ll have to read this delightful story to learn the answers for yourself.
Parents, don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book. It offers even more insight into the inspiration behind this empowering book for children.
Find InnerPiecesGallery, online via blog, twitter and Etsy Shop.
InnerPiecesGallery, EtsyKids
Team nor Etsy is affiliated with the books author(s), illustrator(s) or
publisher. This review is provided simply for the joy of sharing good books
and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.
Toddler Sensory Activity: Planting Flowers
Posted Saturday, April 28, 2012
What you need:
- dried black beans {I used 2 bags}
- fake flowers
- small flower pots
- any other gardening tools you have around the house {we used shovels and a small watering can}
- sensory table {If you don't have a sensory table {I don't} then you can use a bowl, Tupperware, one of those disposable lasagna pans {which we used}...pretty much anything your little heart desires. There are also tons of sensory table DIYs around the internet if you are handy enough to make one yourself. We also have a water table that we like to use.}
What to do:
- empty out your beans into the sensory table
- trim flowers so they aren't too large for the kiddos {make sure no metal is sticking out - you may want to tape the bottom just in case}
- have the children "plant" their flowers by filling a planter with beans and sticking in the flower{s}
- we also have a small watering can to pretend to water the flowers
If you like this post and want to see more toddler activities please visit my blog, Tutus and Tea Parties. You can also follow me on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest.
Mural, Mural on the Wall ...
Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2012
From Cindy of CooperCreations.
Here are a few things to think about when deciding on a mural...
When having a mural painted in your child’s room, the first thing you should consider is how long you want to keep the mural. That will help determine your theme. Most people like to paint their nursery theme and then repaint when they transition their child into a big kid bed. If that is the case then your theme can be very specific to your bedding which will give you a very custom feel. A great thing about painting a mural is that it can match your décor exactly. You don’t have to settle for something that is “close enough”. When it comes to nurseries, if you know that you will be repainting in a two or three years then take this time to make the nursery your own sanctuary – heaven knows you will spend a lot of time in there. The nursery stage is a good time to decorate with characters. If you always loved Peter Rabbit as a child now is your chance to paint it before your child has their own likes and dislikes. Some people opt not to paint their nurseries the traditional pink and blue because they know there will be a lot of that stereotypical color down the line. Lavender or lime are fresh alternatives.
If you are on the other side of things and you know that you want your mural to last through a big bed transition or from big kid room to tween-dom, then you want to go with a more general theme. For nurseries, you can not go wrong with flowers for a girl’s room or a nature theme for a boy’s. Be sure to note where in the nursery you may be placing the big kid bed so that you keep the room balanced even after transition. If you don’t plan to re-paint, then stay away from too much of one color or characters that they will outgrow. Some themes that last a long time in older children’s rooms are butterflies, flowers, space and sports. Use a bold accent wall and repaint that one wall every now and again to spruce things up.
Placement of the mural is also very important. I always tell people to position the bulk of the mural the first place your eye goes to when you walk in the room. This anchors the room and gives you a nice full feeling without painting every wall. Use small coordinating murals to fill space that would be too awkward to place furniture or hanging pictures. For example, paint a baseball bat leaning behind a door or a butterfly above a light switch. Another place that is always a big hit for a mural is above a changing table. Not only are babies fascinated with that area while being changed, but it is also a safer way to decorate than hanging something they can grab. Place your mural at eye level and wrap it around the room if you don’t have a lot of things to hang. This will fill the space for you and will alleviate having to find misc things to hang just because the space is there. On the other hand, if you have a lot of hanging items, then incorporate them into the mural. Paint a frog jumping from picture to picture or a butterfly resting on a frame. Avoid positioning murals at the bottom of your wall in a play room. Most toys get pushed up against the wall which ends up covering your mural. I know a lot of people love picket fences but unfortunately most rooms are not conducive for it. The best place to paint a picket fence mural is to find an awkward place in the room - a wall that cannot be utilized works well. Flower that area up with a little fence and a tall blossoming tree.
A popular alternative to painted murals these days are the vinyl stick ons. These work well in small areas or accents but to get that wow factor, only a mural will do the trick. With a hand painted mural, you can match your décor exactly and target a specific need in the room. The stick ons work well as accents or later additions to a childs room. If your son is into Buzz Lightyear, stick the character on his muraled space wall, then next year when he outgrows Buzz take him off and add a realistic looking astronaut. Just remember, less is best with stick ons.
Whether your budget is $100 or $1000 a mural is always a perfect addition to your child’s room. It is amazing how much life the smallest painting adds to your room.
You can find Cindy and her CooperCreations online at facebook and Etsy:
When having a mural painted in your child’s room, the first thing you should consider is how long you want to keep the mural. That will help determine your theme. Most people like to paint their nursery theme and then repaint when they transition their child into a big kid bed. If that is the case then your theme can be very specific to your bedding which will give you a very custom feel. A great thing about painting a mural is that it can match your décor exactly. You don’t have to settle for something that is “close enough”. When it comes to nurseries, if you know that you will be repainting in a two or three years then take this time to make the nursery your own sanctuary – heaven knows you will spend a lot of time in there. The nursery stage is a good time to decorate with characters. If you always loved Peter Rabbit as a child now is your chance to paint it before your child has their own likes and dislikes. Some people opt not to paint their nurseries the traditional pink and blue because they know there will be a lot of that stereotypical color down the line. Lavender or lime are fresh alternatives.
If you are on the other side of things and you know that you want your mural to last through a big bed transition or from big kid room to tween-dom, then you want to go with a more general theme. For nurseries, you can not go wrong with flowers for a girl’s room or a nature theme for a boy’s. Be sure to note where in the nursery you may be placing the big kid bed so that you keep the room balanced even after transition. If you don’t plan to re-paint, then stay away from too much of one color or characters that they will outgrow. Some themes that last a long time in older children’s rooms are butterflies, flowers, space and sports. Use a bold accent wall and repaint that one wall every now and again to spruce things up.
A popular alternative to painted murals these days are the vinyl stick ons. These work well in small areas or accents but to get that wow factor, only a mural will do the trick. With a hand painted mural, you can match your décor exactly and target a specific need in the room. The stick ons work well as accents or later additions to a childs room. If your son is into Buzz Lightyear, stick the character on his muraled space wall, then next year when he outgrows Buzz take him off and add a realistic looking astronaut. Just remember, less is best with stick ons.
Whether your budget is $100 or $1000 a mural is always a perfect addition to your child’s room. It is amazing how much life the smallest painting adds to your room.
5 Harmful Effects Of Disposable Diapers And Training Pants
Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012
From Anthony and Steph of SuperSkivvies.
Because our company is an eco-friendly and sustainable company we feel that it is necessary to help people make an educated decision when it comes to choosing which products to use for their children. This is for the benefit of you and your child, as well as the environment.
It still amazes us how many people out there give no thought or regard to how the products they use are destroying the very Earth we all call home, even after being educated and shown the truth about harmful products. Unfortunately, a lot of people want to sweep these problems under the rug and forget about them. However, I think we can all agree that we need Earth in order to survive and give future generations the basic necessities of clean air, clean water, and healthy food. Simple right?
Take a look at some of the information we found about disposable diapers and training pants:
This is obviously not an exhaustive list of harmful effects. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
Because our company is an eco-friendly and sustainable company we feel that it is necessary to help people make an educated decision when it comes to choosing which products to use for their children. This is for the benefit of you and your child, as well as the environment.
It still amazes us how many people out there give no thought or regard to how the products they use are destroying the very Earth we all call home, even after being educated and shown the truth about harmful products. Unfortunately, a lot of people want to sweep these problems under the rug and forget about them. However, I think we can all agree that we need Earth in order to survive and give future generations the basic necessities of clean air, clean water, and healthy food. Simple right?
Take a look at some of the information we found about disposable diapers and training pants:
- 18 billion disposable diapers end up in landfills every year in the U.S. alone, adding 5 million tons of untreated human waste to the soil. And did you know that it is illegal to put human fecal matter in your household garbage? The American Public Health Association and American Academy of Pediatrics have advised parents that “fecal material and urine should not be allowed to be co-mingled and disposed of as regular trash. This contaminates ground water and spreads disease.” Yes, you must remove all of the fecal matter from disposables before you throw them out. (Click here for information on disposing of disposable diapers)
- Sodium polyacrylate is a chemical that makes disposable diapers so absorbent that it can absorb up to 100 times its weight in water. However, it can stick to children’s genitals and cause allergic reactions. In the U.S., this chemical was removed from tampons in 1985 when it was linked to toxic shock syndrome. And when this chemical was tested and injected into rats, it caused hemorrhaging, cardiovascular failure, and ultimately death.
- 500 years! This is how long it can take each disposable diaper and training pant to decompose in a landfill. That means that every disposable diaper and training pant ever used in the world is still decomposing in a landfill somewhere. And almost 30 percent of each disposable diaper and training pant consists of non biodegradable products such as absorbent vinyl layers, Velcro, absorbent gelling material, and plastic packaging that will never break down.
- Dioxin is a by product of the paper bleaching process used in the manufacturing of disposable diapers and training pants. It is the most toxic of all the cancer causing chemicals and causes birth defects as well as liver disease in laboratory animals.
- As many as 100 viruses can survive in soiled disposable diapers or training pants for months. This includes the live polio virus and hepatitis excreted by recently vaccinated babies. These viruses constitute a potential hazard to sanitation workers and garbage handlers. No to mention the critters that will crawl into the landfill to find a meal and the birds that will pick through this garbage and fly to who knows where.
This is obviously not an exhaustive list of harmful effects. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
Tutorial:: Bunny & Egg Garland
Posted Tuesday, April 03, 2012
[This craft makes an excellent after school activity for older children .]
Your crafty decorator is baaaaaaack….. with another fun project to replace those adorable Shamrocks that hung from your windows for St. Patrick’s Day. Today we’re making bunnies and eggs! The concept is the same as the Shamrocks, so go gather up a few simple items and we’ll be hopping down the bunny trail.
Materials needed:
- Bunny and Egg clip art or draw your own to suit your taste.
- 2 sheets of paper or cardstock. Cardstock works better.
- Scissors. For this project I used pinking shears because it looks cuter.
- Hole punch or awl. I have a punch with a very small hole, which is better than your average hole punch.
- Glue
- Fabric marker or permanent marker
- Yarn – white
- Felt or Craft Foam. I like the “natural” look of felt over foam. I chose pastels and ecru. Darker colors don’t show up as well from the street as pastels.
- Craft pompoms, large and small sizes. Coordinating colors for your bunny nose and tail.
- Tape
Now, let’s get started:
1) Copy or trace the Bunny & Egg shape onto the paper/card stock. Cut them out. I have 2 sizes of bunnies on mine.
2) Trace bunnies & egg onto Felt or Foam. If your bunny shape is symmetrical, you can fold the shape in half, fold the felt and place the shape on the fold before cutting it out – see picture on right, below. Don’t cut the fold.
3) Cut them out. Pinking shears give a more festive look to these shapes instead of straight-edge scissors.
4) Glue a pompom on one side for the bunny tail. I used small pompoms for my little bunnies and large ones for the big bunnies.
5) Glue small pompom on the OPPOSITE side for bunny nose.
6) Cut TWO very SMALL holes with hole punch or awl, evenly
spaced about an inch from the top and bottom of shape. I chose
to make them right at the tail and nose of bunny shapes.
7) Cut yarn to desired length for windows or doors. I wrap a piece of tape on the end of the yarn so it doesn't fray and is easier to slip through the holes.
8) Slip yarn thru holes in bunnies & eggs. Tie a knot at the bottom so the bunny doesn’t slip off.
9) Hang with tape on windows or doors. TA DA!
If you are REALLY creative, add glitter or other adornments to your “egg” shapes. You can cut circles or other shapes from the felt and glue onto the eggs. I think I’ll be embellishing mine for next year!
So now you have these for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. I’ll be back with another one soon. I’m considering creating a kit to sell and/or taking orders for completed decorations. Let me know what you think. Would you rather go the craft store to buy all the materials and make this yourself (with your kids), or open up a box with a set for your favorite holiday?
Now I’m going to break into the speckled eggs and celebrate a little early! Happy Easter!!
Keep up with ComfyCozyKeepsakes on facebook and at her Etsy Shop:
Book Nook: Inner Perfectionist Beware!
Posted Monday, April 02, 2012
From Cherice of InnerPiecesGallery.
I believe that within each of us lives at least a hint of perfectionism. After all, who among us really WANTS to make a mistake?
Apparently, Barney Saltzberg does. In his delightfully creative book, BEAUTIFUL OOPS!, he shows us how to use our mistakes, mishaps and blunders (yes my friend, we ALL make them) as opportunities to set our imaginations free!
From the very first page you know that you’re in for a special treat. This book is clearly exciting and mature enough for an older child yet feels as sturdy as an infant’s board book. That’s important because you’ll want to explore these artistic pages again and again. Secret fold-always throughout the book show inquisitive minds just how beautiful a smudge, a stain, or a spilled blob of paint can become.
Inner perfectionist beware. Once you read BEAUTIFUL OOPS!, you and the kids may find yourselves searching for excuses to make more oopses!
Find InnerPiecesGallery online at their blog, twitter and Etsy Shop.
InnerPiecesGallery, EtsyKids Team nor Etsy is affiliated with the books author(s), illustrator(s) or publisher. This review is provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.
I believe that within each of us lives at least a hint of perfectionism. After all, who among us really WANTS to make a mistake?
Apparently, Barney Saltzberg does. In his delightfully creative book, BEAUTIFUL OOPS!, he shows us how to use our mistakes, mishaps and blunders (yes my friend, we ALL make them) as opportunities to set our imaginations free!
Inner perfectionist beware. Once you read BEAUTIFUL OOPS!, you and the kids may find yourselves searching for excuses to make more oopses!
Find InnerPiecesGallery online at their blog, twitter and Etsy Shop.
InnerPiecesGallery, EtsyKids Team nor Etsy is affiliated with the books author(s), illustrator(s) or publisher. This review is provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.
Toddler Sensory Activity: Colored Spaghetti
Posted Saturday, March 24, 2012
I was making dinner the other night {spaghetti and meat sauce} and though how fun it would be to play with the spaghetti! I knew coloring it would make it even more fun so I did some browsing and found this video on how to color spaghetti. It's really easy...just take a look.
If you don't have a sensory table {I don't} then you can use a bowl, tupperware, one of those disposable lasagna pans {which we used}...pretty much anything your little heart desires. There are also tons of sensory table DIYs around the internet if you are handy enough to make one yourself. We also have a water table that we like to use.
Bug had so much fun playing in the spaghetti. In fact, it was an all day project! Here are all the things we did with it:
First we played with it using our hands.
Then I broke out the toddler scissors.
She had some trouble with them so I showed her to lay it over a cup and use 2 hands to cut.
Then I held it and she used 2 hands to cut.
Bug served me some scoop-fulls using kitchen tongs {great for motor skill development}!
I even dared to let her take it out by the carpet to cook in her kitchen.
We took the spaghetti to the kitchen floor and made some shapes with them too!
It was so much fun! How will you play with spaghetti?
If you like this post and want to see more toddler activities please visit my blog, Tutus and Tea Parties. You can also follow me here: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest.
Tutorial: Spring Chick
Posted Tuesday, March 20, 2012
From Steph of NewMillie of This Homemade Life.
Has your weather been as crazy as it has been in Texas? Last week we had a few days of high 70's, low 80's with humidity and now for the last 3 days it has been pouring rain and 50 degrees. It's confusing, and I decided we needed a bit of Spring in our lives, and I want to share with you this little Spring Chick tutorial!!
1. Yarn. I used yellow, pink, black and orange, but you could make your little chick whatever color your little heart desires.
2. Hook. I used a 4.25 mm, but once again it's whatever you want.
3. Felt.
4. Hot glue
5. Hair clip or headband
Stitches used:
ch- chain
sl st- slip stitch
sc- single crochet-
hdc- half double crochet
dc- double stitch
tr- treble- Yarn over hook twice, then insert hook into next stitch. Yarn over hook, then draw yarn through the stitch (there will be four loops on your hook) *Yarn over and pull through two loops (three loop remaining), yarn over and pull through two loop,(two loops remaining) yarn over and pull through last two loops.
dbl tr- double treble- Same process as the treble, except yarn over hook three times to start the stitch
trp tr- triple treble- Same process as the double treble, except yarn over hook four times to start the stitch
Are you thoroughly
Chick Body
Chain 4, sl st to form ring
Round 1- 10 sc into the ring
Round 2- 2 sc in first st, sc in 2nd st, 1 hdc and 1 dc in 3rd st, 2 dc in the 4th st,
2 dc in 5th st, 2 sc in 6th st, 1 sc and 1 dc in 7th st, 2 tr in 8th st, 2 dbl tr in 9th st,
2 dbl tr in 10th st.
2 dc in 5th st, 2 sc in 6th st, 1 sc and 1 dc in 7th st, 2 tr in 8th st, 2 dbl tr in 9th st,
2 dbl tr in 10th st.
Round 3- starting in the first stitch of the previous round, 2 dbl tr and 1 trp tr in st,
ch1 and sl st in same st (this is your tail). I also pulled my starting string to close up the hole.
ch1 and sl st in same st (this is your tail). I also pulled my starting string to close up the hole.
Wing
Chain 4, sl st to form ring
Round 1- (crocheting into the ring)- sc, hdc, dc, 2 tr, dc, hdc, 2 sc, hdc, dc,
2 tr, dc, hdc, sc, sl sp into next stitch.
2 tr, dc, hdc, sc, sl sp into next stitch.
Finishing
1. Sew wing onto chick
2. Use black yarn to make a little eye
3. Use orange yarn to make a little beak. (I just found the stitch I wanted to be the beak and attached yarn, sc, ch 1, sc, ch1, sl st all in the same stitch.)
4. Finish and weave in all your ends
St. Patty's Picks
Posted Saturday, March 17, 2012
Happy St. Patrick's Day from all of us a the EtsyKids Team!
Tutorial: Shake an Egg
Posted Wednesday, March 07, 2012
From Lauren at crocheting4baby.
Have you heard of Laurie Berkner?
She sings songs for kids that we just love here in our home. She makes kids music enjoyable, instead of annoying. I must say I can listen to her music non stop while playing with Bug and not get sick of it. She has 5 CDs {i believe} plus a The Best Of CD and I can't tell you which is my fave. I love them all!
On her CD "Whaddaya Think of That?" there is a song called I Know A Chicken, it's also on The Best Of CD.
The song is so much fun and she tells you different ways to shake an egg. If you don't have a shaky egg you can just shake your body, but we made some shaky eggs from old plastic eggs we had in our play food cart since Easter.
What you will need:
First you are going to want to tape the inside where the holes are {if any} so there are no leaks.
Then fill half an egg about 3/4 of the way. Place glue around the edges and let it dry. {don't glue your fingers to the egg} If you are lazy and impatient like I am you can just wrap some packing tape around the egg so it doesn't open easily. You might not want to do that meathod with younger ones who will try to open it. Bug was a good listener and didn't even attempt it.
Give it to your little one, turn on some Laurie Berkner and shake an egg!
Have you heard of Laurie Berkner?
She sings songs for kids that we just love here in our home. She makes kids music enjoyable, instead of annoying. I must say I can listen to her music non stop while playing with Bug and not get sick of it. She has 5 CDs {i believe} plus a The Best Of CD and I can't tell you which is my fave. I love them all!
On her CD "Whaddaya Think of That?" there is a song called I Know A Chicken, it's also on The Best Of CD.
What you will need:
- Plastic Eggs {one per kid, or as many as you'd like}
- Small items to put inside the egg to make noise. We used yeast, rice & small noodles. We wanted to make ours soft and loud shakers. Other ideas are oatmeal, cornmeal, sprinkles, beads...
- Crazy glue
- Tape
Then fill half an egg about 3/4 of the way. Place glue around the edges and let it dry. {don't glue your fingers to the egg} If you are lazy and impatient like I am you can just wrap some packing tape around the egg so it doesn't open easily. You might not want to do that meathod with younger ones who will try to open it. Bug was a good listener and didn't even attempt it.
Give it to your little one, turn on some Laurie Berkner and shake an egg!
See more of Lauren's toddler friendly activities on her blog, Tutus & Tea Parties, follow her on facebook and see her crocheted offerings in her Etsy shop:
Book Nook: How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids
Posted Monday, March 05, 2012
From Cherice of InnerPiecesGallery.
Have you helped fill someone’s bucket today? And no, I don’t actually mean with water, sand, or potting soil.
Authors Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer fill buckets every time someone reads their children’s book How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids. So does illustrator Maurie J. Manning. Want to learn how?
The aptly titled How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids is based on the adult edition How Full Is Your Bucket, a #1 New York Times bestseller. This delightful and empowering storyteaches children and adults what bucket filling is all about.
First we learn that we each have our own imaginary bucket. Granted, some children are not thinking in metaphors at the age they most enjoy picture books. In my humble opinion, a little guidance may be in order while reading to your young, concrete thinking child. We don’t literally have buckets of water floating above our heads all day long. We can, however, learn which actions fill us up and which ones empty us, that is, with a little help from a bucket.
How do we feel when our buckets are empty?
How do we react to other people when that happens?
How do other people react to us?
Manning’s beautiful illustrations help address these important questions and more in a lighthearted, easy to understand way.
I must admit, I initially grew a bit concerned while reading examples of how to fill our buckets. Felix, the main character, began to fill his own empty bucket by receiving compliments from others. I wholeheartedly support cheering for children after a job well done. I do not agree, however, with encouraging reliance on praise in order to feel good about ourselves. Better to form internal mechanisms for self empowerment than to create unhealthy dependence on other people’s opinions. Then again, that’s just my opinion.
As it turns out, my concern only lasted for, oh, a fraction of a moment. The authors, being the research focused professionals that they are, include a variety of ways to fill our own buckets. They placed plenty of emphasis on one of my favorite bucket-filling methods, helping other people fill theirs.
If you’re a parent, you most likely have already filled your child’s bucket numerous times today. If you would like a helpful tool for empowering them to do the same, I highly recommend How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids. Published by Gallup Press, you can find it along with other Tom Rath bestsellers here.
Parents of 10-14 year olds, you will find resources to help discover your child’s strengths there as well.
Care to help fill some more buckets today (including yours)? Spread the word about this empowering children’s book! Pin it. Tweet it. Share it.
If you enjoy this month’s inspiring book find you might also like:
Incredible You and Unstoppable Me!
The Dot, Ish and
The 7 Habits of Happy Kids
Find InnerPiecesGallery online at their blog, twitter and Etsy Shop.
InnerPiecesGallery, EtsyKids Team nor Etsy is affiliated with the books author(s), illustrator(s) or publisher. This review is provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.
Have you helped fill someone’s bucket today? And no, I don’t actually mean with water, sand, or potting soil.
Authors Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer fill buckets every time someone reads their children’s book How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids. So does illustrator Maurie J. Manning. Want to learn how?The aptly titled How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids is based on the adult edition How Full Is Your Bucket, a #1 New York Times bestseller. This delightful and empowering storyteaches children and adults what bucket filling is all about.
First we learn that we each have our own imaginary bucket. Granted, some children are not thinking in metaphors at the age they most enjoy picture books. In my humble opinion, a little guidance may be in order while reading to your young, concrete thinking child. We don’t literally have buckets of water floating above our heads all day long. We can, however, learn which actions fill us up and which ones empty us, that is, with a little help from a bucket.
How do we feel when our buckets are empty?
How do we react to other people when that happens?
How do other people react to us?
Manning’s beautiful illustrations help address these important questions and more in a lighthearted, easy to understand way.
I must admit, I initially grew a bit concerned while reading examples of how to fill our buckets. Felix, the main character, began to fill his own empty bucket by receiving compliments from others. I wholeheartedly support cheering for children after a job well done. I do not agree, however, with encouraging reliance on praise in order to feel good about ourselves. Better to form internal mechanisms for self empowerment than to create unhealthy dependence on other people’s opinions. Then again, that’s just my opinion.
As it turns out, my concern only lasted for, oh, a fraction of a moment. The authors, being the research focused professionals that they are, include a variety of ways to fill our own buckets. They placed plenty of emphasis on one of my favorite bucket-filling methods, helping other people fill theirs.
If you’re a parent, you most likely have already filled your child’s bucket numerous times today. If you would like a helpful tool for empowering them to do the same, I highly recommend How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids. Published by Gallup Press, you can find it along with other Tom Rath bestsellers here.
Parents of 10-14 year olds, you will find resources to help discover your child’s strengths there as well.
Care to help fill some more buckets today (including yours)? Spread the word about this empowering children’s book! Pin it. Tweet it. Share it.
If you enjoy this month’s inspiring book find you might also like:
Incredible You and Unstoppable Me!
The Dot, Ish and
The 7 Habits of Happy Kids
Find InnerPiecesGallery online at their blog, twitter and Etsy Shop.
InnerPiecesGallery, EtsyKids Team nor Etsy is affiliated with the books author(s), illustrator(s) or publisher. This review is provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.
Tutorial: Show Off Your Shamrocks
Posted Saturday, March 03, 2012
From Peggy at ComfyCozyKeepsakes.
I’m Irish. 1/4 Irish tossed in with 1/4 Polish and 1/2 German. I LOVE my heritage – all 3 of them. I also
LOVE to decorate for holidays. I have a bin for each and I can tell you right now that my St. Patrick’s Day bin is too small for my liking.
That means it’s time to make some more decorations!!
This is one of the easiest craft projects ever!
Materials needed:
You probably don’t even need directions do you? OK, if you are truly “crafting challenged”, read on:
1. Copy or trace the Shamrock shape onto the paper/card stock. Cut them out. I used 2 sizes of shamrocks on mine.
That means it’s time to make some more decorations!!
This is one of the easiest craft projects ever!
Materials needed:
- Shamrock clip art. Copy a simple and FREE file on line or draw your own.
- 2 sheets of paper or card stock. Card stock works better.
- Scissors
- Yarn – white
- Green Felt or Craft Foam. I like the “natural” look of felt over foam.
- Tape
You probably don’t even need directions do you? OK, if you are truly “crafting challenged”, read on:
1. Copy or trace the Shamrock shape onto the paper/card stock. Cut them out. I used 2 sizes of shamrocks on mine.
2. Trace shamrocks onto Felt or Foam. Cut them out.
3. Cut TWO very small holes, evenly spaced, at the top and bottom of shamrocks.
4. Cut Yarn to desired length for windows or doors.
5. Slip yarn through holes in shamrocks. Tie a knot at the bottom so the shamrock doesn't slip off.
Toddler Sensory Activity
Posted Saturday, February 25, 2012
From Christine of Belly Bear Baby Gear
If you are the proud parent or family member of a toddler, you know all too well that they are constantly exploring the world around them using their senses. Particularly their senses of touch and taste! With this quick and easy activity, you will be able to allow your toddlers to safely have a new tactile experience.All you will need are a few common household items: a ziploc bag (any size), food coloring, duct tape and good old fashioned foam shaving cream.
Once you have gathered all the necessary ingredients it is time to begin!
Squirt enough shaving cream into the ziploc bag to fill one corner of the bag. A little bit goes a long way. Too much shaving cream will make the bag too fluffy. Then add 2-3 drops of food coloring.
Here's where the fun begins. Seal the bag attempting to force as much air as possible out as you completely close the ziploc bag. Now it's your turn to enjoy this experience before your children. Gently massage the shaving cream and food coloring in the bag to create a cohesive color. If you feel like sharing, you can involve your children in this step as well :)
Your bag is now ready to adhere to a flat surface. For this application I used the duct tape to hang these bags to my refrigerator. One of my children's favorite places to play. This also works well on a child's sized table. You may choose to only attach the bag with duct tape a the top or duct tape all four sides. Be aware that if you only duct tape the top, chances are your resourceful toddler will quickly have this activity removed from the surface you have taped it to!
If you have preschool age children and are feeling brave, this activity can also been done without the bag (toddlers will eat the mixture without the bag) on a table top or in a tray. This will be messy, but the amount of fun your child will have makes the clean up worth it. If doing this activity without the plastic bag I would recommend using liquid water color paint rather than food coloring to avoid staining.
As a side note, shaving cream does an amazing job of cleaning children's marker and crayon markings off of table tops. If you find yourself with a table covered with stray marks, give your preschooler some shaving cream and let them go to town. You will be amazed at how the marks disappear when it is time to wipe the shaving cream off with a damp sponge.
*As always, never leave your child unattended with this activity. Toddler teeth are always looking for something new to bite and they will most certainly chew right through the bag posing a health hazard to themselves.
Enjoy this experience with your toddler. Watch how the shaving cream mushes and moves as they manipulate the bag.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
